Getting Cash out from ATM in Japan

Ljobargain on 20/02/2019 - 14:15
Last edited 20/02/2019 - 14:28

Hi,

First time poster in here, me and my wife will be travelling to Hokkaido,Japan in a few weeks time, and I've read in here and Whirlpool forum that the best exchange rate can be achieved by using a debit card with no overseas ATM withdrawal fees and foreign transaction fee to get cash out from the local ATMs.

I have opened myself a Macquarie bank transaction account which offer the above mentioned benefits, and has a $2000 AUD per day withdrawal limits.

What I want to ask is, is it true that the local ATMs at 7-eleven offer no ATM operator fee, and can be access 24/7?
And the second best ATM to use would be the post office ATM, which attracts a small fee?

And do they have a daily withdrawal limit as well on the ATM?

Any other bank ATMs that are good/free to use as well?

Any other tips with accessing money in Japan would be great as well.

Thanks in advance.

Travel

Comments

    • Archi on 20/02/2019 - 14:37
      +7

      first time poster … obviously not first time reader

  • Cluster on 20/02/2019 - 14:32
    +5

    I used my ING debit card in Japan. Wholesale exchange rate minus about 0.5%, so can't complain there. No exchange fees, ATM fees rebated a few days afterwards. Most ATMs at banks and convenience stores worked, but I did find a few that refused to work. Plan ahead and carry enough cash for a few days.

    • Scantu on 20/02/2019 - 15:47

      Their terms state they use the wholesale rate?

      • garffi on 20/02/2019 - 18:45

        AFAIK they go through VISA foreign exchange rates, not sure if that's called 'wholesale'…

  • klonky on 20/02/2019 - 14:40
    +1

    I think the limit is generally 50,000 per transaction but some ATMs do 100,000.
    I'd often just get 40,000 to last several days.

  • sauce2k on 20/02/2019 - 14:48

    I used citibank…never got charged once..i was withdrawing cash everywhere while I was in Japan lol!

    • FirstWizard on 20/02/2019 - 15:11
      +1

      I've been charged ~200 Yen a couple of times in Tokyo while using convenience store atm with Citibank plus.

      Have since moved to ING and now do not really care which ATM I use.

      • sauce2k on 20/02/2019 - 15:32

        dayum ok i checked my statements, never got charged..maybe I'm lucky then..

      • FloatingPoint on 20/02/2019 - 15:46
        +4

        Seven-Bank ATM at 7‑Eleven does not charge any fee, and they have 24/7 English hotline service in case you have trouble using it.

      • StrayfireX on 20/02/2019 - 17:58
        +1

        Citibank (Mastercard) don't get charged.

        As of 2018, Citibank (VISA) gets charged.

  • Cluster on 20/02/2019 - 14:51

    Also it should be noted that most places don't require cash anymore. I did grocery shopping, gifts, entry to tourist attractions, fuel, and most restaurants with no cash at all. Only places I needed cash was the subway/local trains and small stalls selling food. Japan used to be a cash centered society but that's changing rapidly.

    • John Kimble on 20/02/2019 - 14:59

      Do you mean "don't accept cash anymore"? Or are "not cash only anymore"?

      • Cluster on 20/02/2019 - 15:11

        Don't require cash, as in, that's the only form of payment available.

  • Tech5 on 20/02/2019 - 14:59
    +2

    The ATM itself can still charge you an operator fee. That is why you should use a card like the ING everyday as it will refund any and all fees to your account. There are so many posts on this

  • jobargain on 20/02/2019 - 15:51

    Thanks guys, will have a closer look on previous post, but ING would require meeting min spend requirements a month prior, given that my trip is next month, don't think it would work for me this time around.
    Reasons I asked about 7-11 ATMs was because I've seen in a few posts previously stating that they don't charge operator fees whereas other banks and post office ATMs do. So just wanted to get a clearer picture of things changed recently in Japan or not.

    • eutama on 20/02/2019 - 16:02
      +1

      please do note that even tho IF you got charged for withdrawing at ATM, the fee is only like 180 YEN, which is only roughly $2. So not really a big deal - and as others has mentioned - Japan is turning into a cashless society.
      And at least it gives you a warning - so you can Cancel the transaction if you want to avoid the $2 .. and move on to a different ATMs.. Theres plenty of ATMs around

    • Edeena on 20/02/2019 - 16:59
      +1

      Just came back from Japan 2 weeks ago, I can confirm no atm fee using Macquarie debit card, however this is limited to 7 Bank ATM and AEON Bank ATM. As long as you use those ATMs you won't get charged. Note that with AEON Bank ATMs (very easy to spot, it's pink…), you will need to press International Card first, otherwise it will not work. Always choose Credit, don't choose Savings.

      You can use card to pay at most places now too, will need to sign instead of putting in pin code like Australia. Try to use card as much as possible, you don't want to get hundreds of those worthless 1 yen coins change.

      • Pecan on 20/02/2019 - 19:25

        Always choose Credit, don't choose Savings.

        What’s the reason behind this?

        • DogGunn on 20/02/2019 - 19:50
          +1

          It sometimes doesn't work as savings is assigned to an eftpos app, which only works in Australia.

          • Pecan on 20/02/2019 - 20:57

            @DogGunn: Good to know. I used my Citibank card at 7-Bank ATMs and always picked Savings as I assumed that's what I should use. Didn't have any issues thankfully.

            Was worried that you were going to say the exchange rate is better by picking Credit!

            • Edeena on 20/02/2019 - 23:36
              +1

              @Pecan: Yes, choosing Credit always works and you know for sure it's using the Mastercard/Visa rate. And it's not just Japan, I always choose Credit when withdrawing money overseas to be safe.

              • jobargain on 21/02/2019 - 11:14

                @Edeena: @Edeena, just confirming pressing the credit button to get cash out won't attract "cash advance fee"?

                • Edeena on 21/02/2019 - 17:06
                  +1

                  @jobargain: No cash advance fee for debit cards even if you choose Credit, Macquarie/Citibank/ING all the same.

      • crentist on 20/02/2019 - 19:52
        +1

        If you get a train card from a station (similar to Opal or Myki) you can throw a bunch of cash on them and use it like a tap-and-go credit card in many places. Hard to say if these are more or less accepted than credit cards because both are everywhere, but they are definitely easier.

        At the end of the trip you can return these and get the deposit and credit back. The catch is that some (maybe just Suica brand) cards try to charge a couple hundred yen from the remaining credit if it's available. The other catch is you have to return them at the same train network you got it. And the cards are different from Tokyo and Osaka, and from subway and JR lines. You can use and top them up everywhere, just limited on returns.

      • jobargain on 21/02/2019 - 01:06

        Thanks for the feedback from your recent travel and usage of the Macquarie card. So by choosing credit to get cash out, they won't slug you with cash advance fee?

  • Godric on 20/02/2019 - 19:49

    ING

  • GOCAT9 on 21/02/2019 - 08:37
    +1

    For my wife and I, it’s all the way with ING. In the last month alone since we arrived in Chile, we have saved nearly AUD$1500 between the both of us in ATM fees. This is not a typo!! No brag, just say’in.

  • drmarshall on 21/02/2019 - 10:30
    +2

    Was there in December used Citibank and 7 elevens, no fee charged by operator or citbank, and 7 elevens are everywhere

  • jobargain on 21/02/2019 - 11:13

    Thank you again to everyone who quickly share their experiences and opinions on the best way to get cash in Japan. What can I do without the ozbargain community :)

  • Camembert on 22/02/2019 - 09:25

    The Seven Bank ATMs (inside 7-Eleven) are charging a withdrawal fee of ¥108 at the moment. I use my ING card, so get that rebated and don’t mind. This has included 7-Elevens across Hokkaido and Tokyo.

    ATMs inside Lawson charge ¥216, while those inside Seicomart in Hokkaido are fee-free.

    • jobargain on 22/02/2019 - 09:35

      @camembert I think the fee relate to the use of Visa card vice MasterCard, based on previous posts and comments.
      But great to know about Seicomart as another option. Thanks

  • coolhead on 09/04/2019 - 10:21

    hey guys - what about the 28 degrees master card which is one of the best for overseas transactions.. can that be used to withdraw cash? any fees?
    i would prefer to use that as i have already got one. thanks

  • jobargain on 09/04/2019 - 14:29

    For anyone that still read or will read this, I can report back using my Macquarie master debit card in Hokkaido, no fee for getting cash out from both the 7-Bank and Aeon ATM.

    First time ever not needing to get cash organise in Australia before traveling and carrying stacks of notes on board was great.

    Could not recommend more highly of taking your debit card with you rather than stacks of cash when traveling to Japan.

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